Delta [Epsilon #2]

Chapter Twenty-Seven

I nodded, not quite sure how to absorb this new information. Without warning, he placed his hand on mine, his skin warm, almost hot. It made me wonder if my hand was cold. "Don't get me wrong, I respect Osyn and all, but sometimes he punches above his weight. And since he's too proud to apologise, I'll do it on his behalf." Slowly, Luc sat up, his voice unnervingly close to Osyn's as he mocked, "Apologies, Kyra, my ego is inflated to the size of a house. I sincerely apologise for being a dip-shit. I hope you will forgive me for this mishap, but even if you do, I will continue to be an ass."

Warmth glowed at my core, and for just a single, glorious moment, I laughed. Luc beamed.

And then that joy was drowning, pushed under the waves of despair so ruthlessly that it felt as though I had been punched. I turned away with a grimace, guilt flooding through me. Who was I to even enjoy a laugh when Zion was being tortured? Why was I still here? Shouldn't I be making my way to the Southern Court to save him?

But that was as good as walking into my own death.

It took me a moment to realise the room had fallen into an uncomfortable silence. Luc looked panicked, obviously worried he'd upset me. I was about to assure him otherwise when a delicate knock came at the door. 

"Come in!" Luc sang, springing off the bed, obviously relieved for a distraction. In an instant, the door was opened, and Luna Darla's ice blue eyes were peering through the crack. 

"Your majesty!" Luc yelped, dipping into a hasty bow. Darla's eyes slid to his, their creases deepening as a kind smile formed on her lips. 

"Thank you, Luc. You may rise." Luc rose to a stock-still position, almost like a soldier waiting for his next command. The Luna turned her attention to me. I didn't bother to bow or fix my posture like Luc had. Instead, I remained still.

"Ah, Kyra, dear!" She rushed over to me then, and I half-expected her to slap me for what I'd done to her husband. I was bracing myself for the sting of her palm when she wrapped me in a tight embrace.

My body became stone.

"Kyra... I am so, so sorry for what my husband said." She murmured the words into my shoulder, the reverberation of her voice through my body somewhat therapeutic. Calming, even. 

But then I registered her words. 

"What do you mean?" I asked, not sure if I should wrap my arms around her in return. I decided to let them hand stiffy at my sides.

She pulled back, her eyes bright with tears. "The things he said were just... horrible! I cannot believe anything like that could ever leave his mouth."

I can, I wanted to say, but kept my lips sealed. "Aren't you angry at me for assaulting your husband? I mean, that could technically count as treason."

She shook her head fervently. "Gosh, Kyra, no! After all those vile words he said, you could have done much worse than you did, and I still wouldn't place the blame on you. He more than deserved that punch. In fact, I'm glad you didn't let him walk all over you." She grimaced. "Sometimes, the power gets to Osyn's head, and he becomes tyrannical. I am sure your punch was the humbling he needed, and the reminder to those of the court that, while the Alpha is powerful, he is only as strong as his people."

I stared towards Luc, unsure I was hearing this right, but his jagged shrug told me he was just as lost. When I returned my gaze to the Luna, she was chewing her lip nervously, and it took me a moment to realise she was waiting for an answer. 

"Thank you for your understanding, Luna Darla." I swallowed the dryness of my throat. "I am humbled by your pardon."

The Luna's eyes widened, before she barked an un-ladylike laugh. I stared at her, stunned, but before I could say anything else, she gripped my hand. "Come, Kyra, there is something I must show you. I believe you are worthy to see this."